KIEV, Sept. 20 - Ukraine will not hike domestic natural gas prices after October 28 parliamentary elections, Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said Thursday.

The price hike is the key demand from the International Monetary Fund for resumption of $15.2 billion loan to Ukraine.

“Nothing will happen after October 28,” Azarov said in an interview aired by Pershiy state television. “There will be no decision on the price hike.”

The government, concerned that the unpopular measure would hurt the ruling party politically, has postponed the price hike about two years ago, leading to the suspension of the IMF loan.